Pulsed resonant laser diode array driver

ABSTRACT

A pulsed laser diode array driver includes an inductor having a first terminal configured to receive a source voltage, a source capacitor coupled between the first terminal of the inductor and ground, a bypass capacitor connected between a second terminal of the inductor and ground, a bypass switch connected between the second terminal of the inductor and ground, a laser diode array with one or more rows of laser diodes, and one or more laser diode switches, each being connected between a respective row node of the laser diode array and ground. The laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the laser diode array.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/201,087, filed Apr. 12, 2021, all of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Laser-based ranging systems, such as Lidar, often use a pulsed laser diode driver circuit to generate a short, high-current pulse, which is passed through a laser diode to emit a corresponding pulse of laser light. Reflected pulses of laser light are received by the Lidar system and are used to determine a distance between the Lidar system and the point of reflection. Spatial resolution of Lidar systems is determined in part by the width of the pulse of laser light. For example, it is usually desirable to generate a pulse of light having a width of about 5 ns or less. However, parasitic inductances of the pulsed laser diode driver circuit and the laser diode typically must be overcome to achieve the desired short pulse width. For example, many laser diodes have at least one bond wire which can contribute 1 nH of inductance, thereby limiting a slew rate of the current pulse unless there is very high voltage. Thus, some conventional pulsed laser diode driver circuits use a high source voltage, often greater than 40V to 100V, to achieve the desired pulse width. Switching devices, such as GaN field-effect transistors (FET), are often used in conventional pulsed laser diode driver circuits as they are able to withstand such high voltages. However, pulsed laser diode driver circuits that use GaN technology may be more expensive and/or may be more difficult to integrate with Silicon-based architectures.

Some Lidar systems use arrays of laser diodes as a laser light source. Some laser diode arrays include multiple edge-emitting laser diodes (EELs), and some laser diode arrays include multiple vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). Unlike single edge-emitting laser diodes, laser diode arrays contain many individual laser diodes organized as rows and/or columns to reduce the number of connections required to pulse the laser diodes. For instance, a VCSEL array arranged with 100 rows and 100 columns would contain 10,000 laser diodes. A typical method for driving such a VCSEL array involves connecting all 10,000 anodes of the VCSEL array to a common anode node (e.g., a package pin) and all 100 cathodes in each row to a respective cathode row node (e.g., a respective package pin) to form a common-anode VCSEL array. In this example, there would be one anode node and 100 row cathode nodes. Another typical method for driving such a VCSEL array involves connecting all 10,000 cathodes of the VCSEL array to a common cathode node (e.g., a package pin) and all 100 anodes in each row to a respective anode row node (e.g., a respective package pin) to form a common-cathode VCSEL array. In this example, there would be one cathode node and 100 row anode nodes.

As another example, an edge-emitting laser diode array arranged with four rows and four columns would contain 16 laser diodes. A typical method for driving such a laser diode array involves connecting all 16 anodes of the laser diode array to a common anode node (e.g., a package pin) and all four cathodes in each row to a respective cathode row node (e.g., a respective package pin) to form a common-anode laser diode array. In this example, there would be one anode node and four row cathode nodes. Another typical method for driving an edge-emitting laser diode array involves connecting all 16 cathodes of the laser diode array to a common cathode node (e.g., a package pin) and all four anodes in each row to a respective anode row node (e.g., a respective package pin) to form a common-cathode laser diode array. In this example, there would be one cathode node and four row anode nodes.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a pulsed laser diode array driver includes an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive a source voltage, a source capacitor having a first capacitor terminal directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage and a second capacitor terminal electrically coupled to ground, a bypass capacitor having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal directly electrically connected to ground, a bypass switch having a first node that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second node that is directly electrically connected to ground, a laser diode array having one or more rows, each row including two or more laser diodes, a first node of each respective laser diode being connected in common to a single common node, and a second node of each respective laser diode of each of the one or more rows being connected in common to a respective row node, and one or more laser diode switches, each laser diode switch having a respective first node directly electrically connected to a respective row node and a respective second node directly connected to ground. The one or more laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the laser diode array.

In some embodiments, a pulsed laser diode array driver includes an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive a source voltage, a source capacitor having a first capacitor terminal directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage and a second capacitor terminal electrically coupled to ground, a bypass capacitor having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal directly electrically connected to ground, a bypass switch having a first node that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second node that is directly electrically connected to ground, a common-anode laser diode array having one or more rows, each row comprising two or more laser diodes, respective anodes of all of the laser diodes being connected in common to a single common-anode node, and respective cathodes of each of the laser diodes of each row of the plurality of rows being connected in common to a respective row cathode node, and one or more laser diode switches, each laser diode switch having a respective first node directly electrically connected to a respective row cathode node and a respective second node directly connected to ground. The one or more laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the common-anode laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the common-anode laser diode array.

In some embodiments, a pulsed laser diode array driver includes an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive a source voltage, a source capacitor having a first capacitor terminal directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage and a second capacitor terminal electrically coupled to ground, a bypass capacitor having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal directly electrically connected to ground, a bypass switch having a first node that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second node that is directly electrically connected to ground, a common-cathode laser diode array having one or more rows, each row including two or more laser diodes, respective cathodes of all of the laser diodes being connected in common to a single common-cathode node, and respective anodes of each of the laser diodes of each row of the one or more rows being connected in common to a respective row anode node, and one or more laser diode switches, each laser diode switch having a respective first node directly electrically connected to a respective row anode node and a respective second node directly connected to ground. The one or more laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the common-cathode laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the common-cathode laser diode array.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-C are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a first general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-D show simplified plots of signals related to operation of the pulsed laser diode driver shown in FIG. 1A, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a portion of an example switching sequence for operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers shown in FIGS. 1A-C, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-D are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a second general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-D are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a third general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-D are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a fourth general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-E are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a fifth general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-B are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a sixth general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-B are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers of a seventh general topology, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10A is a simplified circuit schematic of a configurable pulsed laser diode driver, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10B shows simplified circuit schematics of circuits used with the configurable pulsed laser diode driver shown in FIG. 10A, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 shows a simplified circuit schematic of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver of FIG. 10A when it is configured to drive two quad-pack laser diode packages, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 12 shows a simplified circuit schematic of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver of FIG. 10A when it is configured to drive a single array of eight laser diodes, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows a simplified circuit schematic of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver of FIG. 10A when it is configured to drive a single array of 16 laser diodes, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a simplified circuit schematic of another configurable pulsed laser diode driver configured to drive a 64-row VCSEL laser diode array, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a table of example configurations of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver of FIG. 10A, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 16A-B are partial views of a table of example configurations of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver of FIG. 10A, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a photograph of a portion of a realization of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver shown in FIG. 14, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 18A is a simplified schematic representation of a prior art common-anode laser diode array.

FIG. 18B is a simplified schematic representation of a prior art common-cathode laser diode array.

FIG. 18C is a simplified circuit schematic of the common-anode laser diode array shown in FIG. 18A.

FIG. 18D is a simplified circuit schematic of the common-cathode laser diode array shown in FIG. 18B.

FIG. 19 is a simplified circuit schematic of a pulsed resonant common-anode driver, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 20A-20C show simplified plots of signals related to operation of the pulsed resonant common-anode driver shown in FIG. 19, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 21 is a simplified circuit schematic of a pulsed resonant common-cathode driver, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 22A-22C show simplified plots of signals related to operation of the pulsed resonant common-cathode driver shown in FIG. 21, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with some embodiments, pulsed laser diode driver circuits disclosed herein (“pulsed laser diode drivers”), generate high-current (e.g., 40 Amp) ultra-short pulses (e.g., 4 ns) to emit a laser pulse from a laser diode using a tunable resonant circuit, as compared to conventional solutions that rely on fixed, and often unavoidable, parasitic capacitances and inductances of a circuit. The tunable resonant circuit provides easily tunable parameters which control a pulse width, a peak current, a charge time, a recovery time, a decay time, and other tunable parameters of the pulsed laser diode driver. Embodiments of a switching sequence to drive the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein are operable to generate a resonant waveform at an anode of the laser diode to produce the high-current pulse through the laser diode, a voltage level of the resonant waveform being advantageously sufficient to support the high-current pulse and not of a voltage level that exceeds the voltage required to generate the high-current pulse.

Thus, embodiments of such pulsed laser diode drivers can advantageously generate the high-current pulses using a low input voltage (e.g., 6V, 9V, 15V, etc.) and can thereby use Silicon-based switches, rather than GaN-based switches which are used by many conventional solutions. Any of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein can therefore be integrated into a single semiconductor die. Embodiments of pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein advantageously use a discrete inductor (e.g., a through-hole or surface-mounted component) intentionally added to the pulsed laser diode driver to generate a resonant waveform rather than relying on parasitic inductances (e.g., of the laser diode, of bond wires, or inter-circuit connections) of the pulsed laser diode driver. As a result, embodiments of the laser drivers disclosed herein are easily tunable and have a reproducible architecture. By contrast, conventional pulsed laser diode drivers often use a variety of techniques to overcome the effects of parasitic inductances of the pulsed laser diode driver and of the laser diode itself and therefore teach away from intentionally adding yet additional inductance to the pulsed laser diode driver. In addition to such intentionally added inductors, the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein advantageously include a bypass capacitor that may be used by a designer to easily tune a desired pulse width emitted by the laser diode(s), as compared to conventional solutions which only have a source capacitor, or that only consider non-tunable parasitic capacitances of the pulsed laser diode driver. Once again, such conventional solutions teach away from adding yet additional capacitance to the pulsed laser diode driver. Because conventional solutions rely on parasitic capacitances and inductances of the conventional laser driver, modifying parameters such as a pulse width might require a redesign or re-layout of the conventional solution. By comparison, parameters, such as a pulse width, of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein can be tuned by simply changing a component value.

There are many types of laser diode packaging configurations-spanning from packages housing a single laser diode, to four laser diodes (“quad-packs”), to arrays of tens-of-thousands of laser diodes in a single package. Additionally, packaging pinouts differ between various laser diode configurations (e.g., between that of a single or quad edge-emitting laser diode configuration versus that of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) laser diode configuration). However, laser diodes of the various configurations have similar characteristics, such as a high threshold turn-on voltage and internal series resistance which determine a transfer function of the laser diode device. As disclosed herein, a configurable pulsed laser diode driver is advantageously operable to control a wide variety of laser diode packaging configurations which may vary in the number, type, and grouping of laser diodes.

Some laser diode packages may contain a laser diode array that is organized into rows and columns to reduce the number of connections required to pulse the laser diodes. Disclosed herein are circuits that are operable to sequentially drive individual rows of such laser diode arrays, advantageously using the resonant architecture disclosed herein.

FIGS. 1A-C are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 of a first general topology to drive a laser diode using a low-side switch, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 each generally include a source resistor R_(S), a source capacitor C_(S), a damping resistor R_(Damp), an inductor L_(S), a bypass capacitor C_(BP), a laser diode D_(L), a bypass switch M_(BP), and a laser diode switch M_(DL). The laser diode switch M_(DL) is configured as a low-side switch. Also shown is an optional controller 120, nodes 110, 112, a parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), a DC input voltage V_(in), a source voltage V_(s) at the source capacitor C_(S), a current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), a current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L), a bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and a laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL).

Topologies of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 vary with respect to placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP). In each of the topologies of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103, a first terminal of the source resistor R_(S) is configured to be directly electrically connected to the DC input voltage V_(in). A first terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is directly electrically connected to a second terminal of the source resistor R_(S), and a second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is directly electrically connected to a first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). A second terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp) is directly electrically connected to a bias voltage node such as ground. A first terminal of the inductor L_(S) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source resistor R_(S) and to the first terminal of the source capacitor C_(S). A drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP) is directly electrically connected to a second terminal of the inductor L_(S), and a source node of the bypass switch M_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. An anode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S), and a cathode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to a drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL). A source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node.

The bypass switch M_(BP) is configured to receive the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) at a gate node, the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) being operable to turn the bypass switch M_(BP) on or off based on a voltage level of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP). Similarly, the laser diode switch M_(DL) is configured to receive the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) at a gate node, the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) being operable to turn the laser diode switch M_(DL) on or off based on a voltage level of the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL). In some embodiments, the pulsed laser diode driver circuits disclosed herein include one or more bootstrap circuits or other level-shifting circuits to drive one or more high-side switches. Either or both of the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) can be implemented as N-type switches or P-type switches. In some embodiments, the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are implemented as Silicon-based or Silicon-Carbide-based field-effect transistors (FETs). Two or more components described herein as having terminals or nodes that are directly electrically connected have a DC current path between the respective terminals or nodes of the two or more components. For example, a first and second component are not directly electrically connected via a capacitor connected in series between the first component and the second component.

As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 101 of FIG. 1A, in some embodiments a first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the anode of the laser diode D_(L). In such embodiments, a second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 102 of FIG. 1B, in some embodiments, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the anode of the laser diode D_(L). The second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 103 of FIG. 1C, in some embodiments, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the anode of the laser diode D_(L). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) and to the cathode of the laser diode D_(L).

In some embodiments, the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 are configured to receive the DC input voltage V_(in) having a voltage range from about 10V to 20V, which is advantageously lower than an input voltage used by many conventional pulsed laser diode drivers. The inductor L_(S) is a physical component added to the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 (i.e., as opposed to a representation of a parasitic inductance caused by components or interconnections such as bond wires). Similarly, the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is a physical component added to the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 (i.e., as opposed to a representation of a parasitic capacitance). One advantage of using physical inductor and capacitor components rather than using parasitic inductances is that values of the inductor L_(S) and the bypass capacitor C_(BP) can be easily modified by a designer or even an end-user. By comparison, conventional designs that rely on parasitic reactances may require re-design and/or re-layout to change an operating parameter.

As disclosed herein, values of the DC input voltage V_(in), the inductance of the inductor L_(S), the capacitance of the source capacitor C_(S), the resistance of the damping resistor R_(Damp), and the capacitance of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) can advantageously be selected (“tuned”) to achieve a desired operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 (e.g., a charge time, a pulse width, a pulse voltage level, and/or a pulse current amplitude). For example, a pulse width of the current i_(DL) flowing through the laser diode D_(L) can be tuned by adjusting the capacitance value of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) A peak current level of the pulse of current i_(DL) flowing through the laser diode D_(L) can be tuned by adjusting the source voltage V_(s) on the supply capacitor C_(S). A capacitance value of the source capacitor C_(S) can be tuned to adjust a timing delay of the current pulse and an upper range of the current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L). Resistance values of the damping resistor R_(Damp) are dependent on the capacitance value of the supply capacitor C_(S) and can be tuned within a range of values such that at a lower resistance, a lower frequency resonance of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein is underdamped (e.g., at about R_(Damp)=0.1 Ohm), or is critically damped (e.g., at about R_(Damp)=0.4 Ohm). The damping resistor R_(Damp) is operable to prevent current of the generated resonant waveform from becoming negative which could thereby enable a body diode of the bypass switch M_(BP) or the laser diode switch M_(DL). Although a resulting maximum current level of the current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L) is lower for the critically damped case, the current level can be easily adjusted by raising the voltage level of the DC input voltage V_(i). In other embodiments, the damping resistor R_(Damp) is removed entirely from the design (i.e., the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node). In yet other embodiments, the resistance value of the damping resistor R_(Damp) is set to zero Ohms.

In some embodiments, the DC input voltage V_(in) is about 15 V, the inductance of the inductor L_(S) is about 6 nH, the capacitance of the source capacitor C_(S) is about 100 nF, the resistance of the damping resistor R_(Damp) is about 0.1 Ohm, and the capacitance of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is about 1 nF. In some embodiments, a voltage at the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp) is received by the controller 120 to provide an indication of a current flow through the damping resistor R_(Damp).

The controller 120 may be integrated with any embodiment of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein, or it may be a circuit or module that is external to any embodiment of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein. The controller 120 is operable to generate one or more gate drive signals having a voltage level that is sufficient to control one or more laser diode switches M_(DL) and one or more bypass switches M_(BP). Additionally, the controller 120 is operable to sense a voltage and/or current at any of the nodes 110 and 112 and at nodes that are similar to, or the same as, the nodes 110 and 112 as described herein, or at still other nodes of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein. The controller 120 may include one or more timing circuits, look-up tables, processors, memory, or other modules to control the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein. Operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 is explained in detail with respect to simplified plots 201-207 of FIGS. 2A-D and an example switching sequence 300 shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 2A-2D show simplified plots 201-207 of signals related to operation of the pulsed laser diode driver 101 shown in FIG. 1A, in accordance with some embodiments. However, signals related to the operation of the other pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein are similar to, or are the same as, those shown in the simplified plots 201-207.

The simplified plot 201 illustrates a voltage plot of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220, a voltage plot of the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221, a current plot of the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S) 222, a current plot of the current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L) 223, and a voltage plot of the source voltage V_(S) 224 at the source capacitor C_(S), all over the same duration of time. Details of these signals are described below. The voltage plots of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221 have been level-shifted for readability, but are, in actuality, low voltage inputs. Additionally, the voltage plots of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221 assume that the laser diode switch M_(DL) and the bypass switch M_(BP) are NFET devices. However, if PFET devices are used instead, the polarity of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221 are inverted.

Upon receiving (e.g., from the controller 120) an asserted level of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 at the gate node of the bypass switch M_(BP), the bypass switch M_(BP) is enabled (i.e., transitioned to an ON-state). Similarly, upon receiving (e.g., from the controller 120) an asserted level of the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221 at the gate node of the laser diode switch M_(DL), the laser diode switch M_(DL) is enabled. As highlighted in the plot 202, when the bypass switch M_(BP) is enabled, the rising current i_(LS) 222 begins to flow through the inductor L_(S), thereby building magnetic flux at the inductor L_(S). When the current i_(LS) 222 has reached a desired level (e.g., as determined by the controller 120 using sensed current, voltage, a timer circuit, or as determined by design constraints), a de-asserted level of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 is received (e.g., from the controller 120) at the gate node of the bypass switch M_(BP), thereby disabling the bypass switch M_(BP) (i.e., transitioned to an OFF-state). As highlighted in the plot 203, when the bypass switch M_(BP) is disabled, the current i_(LS) 222 which has built up through the inductor L_(S), having no other current path, is redirected through the laser diode D_(L), causing a short (e.g., 2 ns-5 ns), high-current (e.g., >30A) pulse to flow through the laser diode D_(L), thereby causing the laser diode D_(L) to emit a pulse of laser light. Because energy in the form of flux has been stored at the inductor L_(S), the high-current pulse i_(DL) that flows through the laser diode D_(L) can be significantly greater than the current i_(LS) that flows through the inductor L_(S). Values of the reactive components of the laser diode drivers disclosed herein can be advantageously selected to generate a desired current amplitude of the high-current pulse i_(DL).

After emission from the laser diode D_(L), the bypass switch is reenabled by an asserted level of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220, and the laser diode switch M_(DL) is maintained in an enabled state by an asserted level of the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221. As highlighted in the plot 204, the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are both advantageously maintained in the enabled state as the source voltage V_(S) 224 stored at the source capacitor C_(S) is discharged. As highlighted in the plot 205, while the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are maintained in the enabled state, the current i_(DL) 223 through the laser diode D_(L) (and importantly, through the parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L)) diminishes to zero. Thereafter, both the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are disabled by de-asserted levels (e.g., from the controller 120) of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221. Because the laser diode switch M_(DL) is not disabled until a current through the parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L) has diminished to zero, a high voltage spike advantageously does not develop at the anode of the laser diode D_(L) as there is no rapid change in current through the parasitic inductance L_(DL). Because such high voltage spikes are advantageously mitigated, the laser diode switch M_(DL) does not need to be selected to withstand high voltages, thereby simplifying the design and reducing the cost of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein as compared to conventional solutions. Additionally, because such high voltage spikes are mitigated, the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein do not require voltage snubbing circuits that are commonly used in conventional solutions, thereby further simplifying the design and reducing the cost of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein as compared to conventional solutions.

The high-current pulse 223 is a first and largest peak of the resonant waveform developed by reactive components of the pulsed laser diode driver circuit. These reactive components include the source capacitor C_(S), the inductor L_(S), the parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), and the bypass capacitor C_(BP). In addition to the advantages described above, the bypass switch M_(BP) also reduces subsequent resonant waveform “ringing” of the resonant waveform after the high-current pulse 223 is generated. As shown in the plot 206, if a bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220′ is not asserted after a high-current pulse i_(DL) 223′ is generated, ringing occurs on the current i_(LS) 222′ through the inductor L_(S), on the current iDL 223′ through the laser diode D_(L), and on the source voltage V_(S) 224′ at the source capacitor C_(S).

As previously described, values of the source capacitor C_(S), the inductor Ls and the bypass capacitor C_(BP) may be advantageously selected or “tuned” by a designer to meet desired performance criteria of the pulsed laser diode driver disclosed herein. For example, a capacitance value of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) may be selected based on a desired pulse width of the current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L). The plot 207 shows the pulse 223 generated when the capacitance of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is equal to 1 nF, and a pulse 223″ generated when the capacitance of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is equal to 4 nF. In use cases where a wider pulse, such as the pulse 223″, is desired, the source voltage V_(S) may be raised accordingly. Additionally, in some embodiments, the width of the de-asserted portion of the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 is widened to accommodate a wider pulse.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of an example switching sequence 300 for operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 shown in FIG. 1A-B, in accordance with some embodiments, and as was described with reference to FIGS. 2A-C. However, the switching sequence 300 is similar to, or the same as, respective switching sequences related to the operation of the other pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein.

At a precharge step 301, the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are off (i.e., not conducting). During the precharge step 301, the source capacitor C_(S) is charged through the source resistor Rs. At a preflux step 302, the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are transitioned to an ON-state, thereby allowing the current i_(LS) to flow through the inductor L_(S) to store energy in the form of magnetic flux at the inductor L_(S). Even though both of the switches (M_(DL), M_(BP)) are in an ON-state at the preflux step 302, the bypass path through the bypass switch M_(BP) will carry all of the current i_(LS) because a bandgap voltage of the laser diode D_(L) needs to be overcome to allow current to flow through the laser diode D_(L).

In some embodiments, the laser diode switch M_(DL) is transitioned to an ON-state after the bypass switch M_(BP) is transitioned to an ON-state. At a pulse generation step 303, the bypass switch M_(BP) is transitioned to an OFF-state while the laser diode switch M_(DL) is maintained in an ON-state, thereby generating the high-current pulse through the laser diode D_(L). When the bypass switch M_(BP) is transitioned to the OFF-state, voltage at the anode of the laser diode D_(L) rises quickly, until the bandgap voltage of the laser diode D_(L) is overcome and the laser diode D_(L) begins to conduct current. Because of a resonant circuit formed by the bypass capacitor C_(BP) and the parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), the voltage formed at the anode of the laser diode D_(L) will advantageously rise as high as necessary to overcome the bandgap voltage of the laser diode D_(L) and will generally be higher than the source voltage Vs.

At a discharge step 304, the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are maintained in an ON-state to drain charge stored at the source capacitor C_(S), thereby reducing the current i_(DL) through the parasitic inductance L_(DL) to advantageously eliminate a high voltage spike at the anode of the laser diode D_(L) when the laser diode switch M_(DL) is transitioned to an OFF-state. At step 305, the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) are transitioned to an OFF-state, thereby returning to the precharge state at step 301. Because the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S) is completely discharged at the end of the discharge step 304, there is very little current through the laser diode D_(L). Thus, there is advantageously very little overshoot when the switches M_(DL), M_(BP) are transitioned to the OFF-state at step 305, thereby preventing damage to the laser diode D_(L) and the switches M_(DL), M_(BP). The time interval of the overall pulse and bypass signals is selected, in some embodiments, such that the source capacitor C_(S) is fully discharged before the switches M_(DL), M_(BP) are transitioned to the OFF-state at step 305.

Other topologies of pulsed laser drivers, having the same or similar advantages and having similar operation as that of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103, are disclosed below. The example topologies disclosed herein are not an exhaustive list of possible topologies that have the same or similar advantages and similar operation as that of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103. For example, one of skill in the art will appreciate that some modifications can be made while still adhering to the general principle of operation disclosed herein. Such modifications include placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP), component values, and the addition of serially connected components that provide a DC current path.

FIGS. 4A-D are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 401-404 of a second general topology that is configured to drive two or more laser diodes in a common anode arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 401-404 each generally include the source resistor R_(S), the source capacitor C_(S), the damping resistor R_(Damp), the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), and the bypass switch M_(BP). The pulsed laser diode drivers 401-402 each include two or more laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹-M_(DL) ^(n), whereas the pulsed laser diode drivers 403-404 includes a single laser diode switch M_(DL) ¹.

Also shown is the controller 120, nodes 410, 412, respective parasitic inductances L_(DL) ¹-L_(DL) ^(n) of the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), the DC input voltage V_(in), the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S), the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), respective currents i_(DL) ¹-i_(DL) ^(n) through the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), and the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP). The pulsed laser diode drivers 401-402 each utilize respective laser diode switch gate driver signals GATE_(DL) ¹-GATE_(DL) ^(n), whereas the pulsed laser diode drivers 403-404 use a single laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) ¹. Electrical connections of the pulsed laser diode drivers 401-404 are similar to, or the same as, those described with respect to the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103. Topologies of the pulsed laser diode drivers 401-404 vary with respect to placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP).

As shown in the simplified circuit schematics of the pulsed laser diode driver 401 of FIG. 4A and the pulsed laser diode driver 404 of FIG. 4D, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the anodes of the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode drivers 402-403 of FIGS. 4B-C, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the respective anodes of the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor Cs and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). In some embodiments, values of the DC input voltage V_(in), inductance of the inductor L_(S), capacitance of the source capacitor C_(S), resistance of the damping resistor R_(Damp), and capacitance of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) are similar to, or the same as, those respective values as described with reference to the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103. However, the values of the DC input voltage V_(in), inductance of the inductor L_(S), capacitance of the source capacitor C_(S), resistance of the damping resistor R_(Damp), and capacitance of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) can advantageously be selected to achieve desired operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers 401-404 (e.g., a charge time, a pulse width, a pulse voltage, a pulse current level). Operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers 401-404 is similar to, or the same as, operation of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103 as explained in detail with respect to the simplified plots 201-206 of FIGS. 2A-D, as well as the example switching sequence 300 shown in FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, the controller 120 is configured to determine how many of the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n) are enabled simultaneously and to adjust a voltage level of the DC input voltage V_(in) in accordance with that determination to supply a required amount of current (e.g., using a digitally adjustable voltage source (not shown) controlled by a digital control signal from the controller 120).

FIGS. 5A-D are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 501-504 of a third general topology that is configured to drive a laser diode using a high-side switch, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 501-504 each generally include the source resistor R_(S), the source capacitor C_(S), the damping resistor R_(Damp), the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the laser diode D_(L), the bypass switch M_(BP), and the laser diode switch M_(DL). The laser diode switch M_(DL) is configured as a high-side switch.

Also shown is the controller 120, nodes 510, 512, the parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), the DC input voltage V_(in), the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S), the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), the current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L), the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL). Most of the electrical connections of the pulsed laser diode drivers 501-504 are similar to, or the same as, those described with respect to the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103. However, in contrast to the low-side configuration of the pulsed laser diode drivers 101-103, the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP). The source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) is directly electrically connected to the anode of the laser diode D_(L), and the cathode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. Topologies of the pulsed laser diode drivers 501-504 vary with respect to placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP).

As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 501 of FIG. 5A, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 502 of FIG. 5B, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) and to the anode of the laser diode D_(L). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 503 of FIG. 5C, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S), to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP), and to the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 504 of FIG. 5D, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) and the anode of the laser diode D_(L). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp).

FIGS. 6A-D are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 601-604 of a fourth general topology that is configured to drive two or more laser diodes in a common cathode configuration using a high-side switch, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 601-604 each generally include the source resistor R_(S), the source capacitor C_(S), the damping resistor R_(Damp), the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the bypass switch M_(BP), two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), and two or more respective laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹-M_(DL) ^(n).

Also shown is the controller 120, nodes 610, 612, 614, respective parasitic inductances L_(DL) ¹-L_(DL) ^(n) of the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), the DC input voltage V_(in), the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S), the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), respective currents i_(DL) ¹-i_(DL) ^(n) through the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and respective laser diode switch gate driver signals GATE_(DL) ¹-GATE_(DL) ^(n) of the laser diode switches M_(L) ¹-M_(L) ^(n).

Most of the electrical connections of the pulsed laser diode drivers 601-604 are similar to, or are the same as, those described with respect to the pulsed laser diode drivers 501-504. However, topologies of the pulsed laser diode drivers 601-604 vary from one another with respect to placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP).

As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 601 of FIG. 6A, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to respective drain nodes of the laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹-M_(DL) ^(n) and the bypass switch M_(BP). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 602 of FIG. 6B, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of any of the laser diode switches (M_(DL)n is shown) and to the anode of the laser diode coupled to that laser diode switch (D_(L)n is shown). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. In some embodiments, multiple bypass capacitors C_(BP) are be used, each of the bypass capacitors being connected across a respective laser diode. However, in embodiments having a single bypass capacitor, C_(BP), the laser diode switch that is connected to the single bypass capacitor C_(BP) must remain on during all or a portion of the switching cycle of the pulsed laser diode driver 602. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 603 of FIG. 6C, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to respective drain nodes of the laser diode switches M_(DL)′-M_(DL) ^(n) and the bypass switch M_(BP). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 604 of FIG. 6D, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of any of the laser diode switches (M_(DL) ¹ is shown) and to the anode of the laser diode coupled to that laser diode switch (D_(L) ¹ is shown). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). In some embodiments, multiple bypass capacitors C_(BP) are be used, each of the bypass capacitors C_(BP) having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to a respective anode of each laser diode and a second terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(S). However, in embodiments having a single bypass capacitor, C_(BP), the laser diode switch that is connected to the single bypass capacitor CBP must remain on during all or a portion of the switching cycle of the pulsed laser diode driver 604.

In some embodiments, the controller 120 is operable to determine how many of the laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n) are enabled simultaneously and to adjust a voltage level of the DC input voltage V_(in) in accordance with that determination to supply a required amount of current (e.g., using a digitally adjustable voltage source (not shown) controlled by a digital control signal from the controller 120).

FIGS. 7A-E are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 701-705 of a fifth general topology that is configured to drive a laser diode using a half-bridge configuration, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 701-704 each generally include the source resistor R_(S), the source capacitor C_(S), the damping resistor R_(Damp), the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the bypass switch M_(BP), the laser diode D_(L), and the laser diode switch M_(DL). The pulsed laser diode driver 705 additionally includes two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), rather than the single laser diode D_(L), each of the two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n) having a respective parasitic inductance L_(DL) ¹-L_(DL) ^(n) , and respective current representation i_(DL) ¹-i_(DL) ^(n). However, the pulsed laser diode driver 705 lacks independent control of the two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n).

Also shown is the controller 120, nodes 710, 712, the parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), the DC input voltage V_(in), the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S), the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), the current i_(DL) through the laser diode D_(L), the currents i_(DL) ¹-i_(DL) ^(n) through the two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n), the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) of the laser diode switch M_(DL).

Most of the electrical connections of the pulsed laser diode drivers 701-704 are similar to, or the same as those described with respect to the pulsed laser diode drivers 501-503. However, in contrast to the high-side configuration of the pulsed laser diode drivers 501-503, the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) and to the anode of the laser diode D_(L). The source node of the bypass switch M_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. Thus, as shown in the simplified circuit schematics of the pulsed laser diode drivers 701-704, the laser diode D_(L) may be driven by the half-bridge configuration of the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL). Topologies of the pulsed laser diode drivers 701-704 vary with respect to placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP).

As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 701 of FIG. 7A, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 702 of FIG. 7B, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL), to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP), and to the anode of the laser diode D_(L). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 703 of FIG. 7C, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and to the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 704 of FIG. 7D, in some embodiments the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL), the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP), and the anode of the laser diode D_(L). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp).

As shown in the simplified circuit schematic of the pulsed laser diode driver 705 of FIG. 7E, two or more laser diodes D_(L) ¹-D_(L) ^(n) may be driven simultaneously by the half-bridge configuration of the bypass switch M_(BP) and the laser diode switch M_(DL). In the example shown, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp). However, other configurations of the bypass capacitor C_(BP), such as those described with reference to FIGS. 7A-D may be used.

FIGS. 8A-B are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 801-802 of a sixth general topology that is configured to drive a laser diode using a high-side switch, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 801-802 generally include the source resistor R_(S), the source capacitor C_(S), the damping resistor R_(Damp), the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the laser diode D_(L), the bypass switch M_(BP), and the laser diode switch M_(DL). Also shown is the controller 120, nodes 810, 812, the respective parasitic inductances L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), the DC input voltage V_(in), the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S), the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), the current iDL through the laser diodes D_(L), the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL). Electrical connections of the pulsed laser diode driver 801 are similar to, or the same as those described with respect to the pulsed laser diode driver 101. The pulsed laser diode drivers 801-802 differ in that the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source resistor R_(S) and to the first terminal of the source capacitor Cs. The source node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) is directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor L_(S). The anode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and the cathode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown, the pulsed laser diode drivers 801-802 are advantageously configured such that the laser diode switch M_(DL) is electrically connected between the inductor L_(S) and the source capacitor C_(S). As a result, the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) does not receive a high voltage spike developed at the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) when the bypass switch M_(BP) is disabled to generate the high-current pulse through the laser diode D_(L).

The pulsed laser diode drivers 801-802 differ in placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP). As shown in FIG. 8A, in some embodiments, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S), to the anode of the laser diode D_(L), and to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in FIG. 8B, in some embodiments, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S), to the anode of the laser diode D_(L), and to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp).

In other embodiments, the respective positions of the inductor L_(S) and the laser diode switch M_(DL) in either of the pulsed laser diode drivers 801-802, can be exchanged such that the first terminal of the inductor L_(S) is directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the source capacitor C_(S), and the drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S).

FIGS. 9A-B are simplified circuit schematics of pulsed laser diode drivers 901-902 of a seventh general topology that is configured to drive a laser diode using only a bypass switch, in accordance with some embodiments. The pulsed laser diode drivers 901-902 generally include the source resistor R_(S), the source capacitor C_(S), the damping resistor R_(Damp), the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the laser diode D_(L), and the bypass switch M_(BP). Also shown are nodes 910, 912, the respective parasitic inductances L_(DL) of the laser diode D_(L), the DC input voltage V_(in), the source voltage V_(S) at the source capacitor C_(S), the current i_(LS) through the inductor L_(S), the current i_(DL) through the laser diodes D_(L), and the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP). Electrical connections of the pulsed laser diode drivers 901-902 are similar to, or the same as, those described with respect to the pulsed laser diode driver 101. The pulsed laser diode drivers 901-902 differ in that the laser diode switch M_(DL) is eliminated. The anode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) and the cathode of the laser diode D_(L) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. In such embodiments, the voltage level of the DC input voltage V_(in) is restricted to a voltage level that does not surpass the forward bias voltage of the laser diode D_(L), thereby maintaining the laser diode D_(L) in an OFF-state (i.e., not conducting) until a voltage higher than the forward bias voltage is developed at the second terminal of the inductor L_(S) when current flow through the bypass switch is momentarily disabled.

The pulsed laser diode drivers 901-902 differ in placement of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) As shown in FIG. 9A, in some embodiments, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S), to the anode of the laser diode D_(L), and to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage node. As shown in FIG. 9B, in some embodiments, the first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor L_(S), to the anode of the laser diode D_(L), and to the drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP). In such embodiments, the second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) and to the first terminal of the damping resistor R_(Damp).

Embodiments of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein are additionally or alternatively operable to provide current pulses to devices other than laser diodes. For instance, embodiments of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein are operable to provide a current pulse to a light-emitting diode (i.e., a non-laser LED). Additionally, embodiments of the pulsed laser diode drivers disclosed herein are operable to provide a current pulse to another circuit or device, having no laser diode, that is configured to receive a current pulse for a purpose other than emitting light.

In some embodiments, two or more instances of the laser diode drivers disclosed herein are configured to drive respective laser diodes. For example, four instances of the pulsed laser diode driver 802 may be used to drive a laser diode package that includes four laser diodes. In such an embodiment, each of the laser diodes in the laser diode package is driven by an instance of the pulsed laser diode driver 802.

There are many types of laser diode packaging configurations—spanning from single diodes to arrays of tens-of-thousands of laser diodes in a single laser diode package. Additionally, packaging pinouts differ between various laser diode configurations (e.g., between that of a single or quad edge-emitting laser diode configuration versus that of a VCSEL laser diode configuration).

Regardless of the particulars of the packaging, laser diodes have similar underlying characteristics such as a high threshold turn-on voltage and internal series resistance which determine a transfer function of the laser diode device. Additionally, many laser diode applications, regardless of the device packaging, often require a very narrow, high-current pulse with a relatively low repetition rate to limit power dissipation in the laser diode. A configurable pulsed laser diode driver disclosed herein advantageously uses the bypass resonant driver architecture described with reference to FIG. 1A-FIG. 9B to drive many different pin configurations and laser firing sequences of a variety of packaged laser diode devices.

FIG. 10A is a simplified circuit schematic of a configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002, in accordance with some embodiments. In general, the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 includes an input voltage terminal yin, an operating voltage terminal vdd, a bias voltage terminal vss, a clock terminal “clock”, charging terminals cin₁-cin₄, drive terminals row₁-row_(n), pulse configuration terminals pw₀-pw ₁, and configuration terminals that include output selection configuration terminals s₀-s_(k), mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and charge configuration terminals c₀-c₁. The number of terminals made available for each of the charging terminals, drive terminals, pulse configuration terminals, and configuration terminals may be selected at design time as needed. Thus, in some embodiments, the number of bits available for each of the charging terminals, drive terminals, pulse configuration terminals, and configuration terminals may be a different value than shown in FIG. 10A. For example, the charging terminals may be implemented as cin1-cin_(p), the mode configuration terminals may be implemented as m₀-m_(q), the grouping configuration terminals may be implemented as e₀-e_(r), and the charge configuration terminals may be implemented as c₀-c_(s), where k, n, p, q, r, and s are any respective integer.

The drive terminals row₁-row_(n) include a first set of programmable drive terminals (e.g., 16 terminals, 64 terminals, 128 terminals, or another number of terminals) and a second set of non-programmable drive terminals (e.g., one terminal, four terminals, or another number of terminals). For example, in some embodiments, the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 has 16 programmable drive terminals and one non-programmable drive terminal. In other embodiments, the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 has 64 programmable drive terminals and four non-programmable drive terminals (e.g., a 16-1 ratio).

Configuration of the programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n), is determined based on configuration data set using the configuration terminals of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002. Values of the configuration data determine an output type, a grouping, and a clocking scheme of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002. For an example of a 16-channel implementation of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002, the 16 channels are controlled in accordance with configuration data set using the pulse configuration terminals pw₀-pw₁, four output selection configuration terminals s₀-s₃, the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and the charge configuration terminals c₀-c₁. In this example, 16 of the drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) are programmable, and one of the drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) is non-programmable. The non-programmable terminal is configured to always produce a Bypass signal, as discussed below. For an example of a 64-channel implementation of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002, the 64 channels are controlled in accordance with configuration data set using the pulse configuration terminals pw₀-pw₁, six output selection configuration terminals s₀-s₅, the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and the charge configuration terminals c₀-c₁. In this example, 64 of the drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) are programmable, and four of the drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) are non-programmable, the non-programmable drive terminals being configured to always produce a Bypass signal, as discussed below.

In either example implementation of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002, a resonant bypass architecture to energize one or more laser diodes as described with reference to FIG. 1A-FIG. 9B is driven by two types of signals controlled by the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002: a Pulse signal and a Bypass signal. With reference to FIG. 2A-FIG. 2D, the laser diode switch gate driver signal GATE_(DL) 221 is an example of a Pulse signal, and bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 220 is an example of a Bypass signal. The Pulse signal generally controls a current flow through a laser diode by providing a control signal to a circuit (e.g., a switch such as an NFET) that is electrically connected to a cathode of the laser diode. The Bypass signal generally controls the production, by a resonant circuit, of a high current pulse (e.g., 223, 223′, 223″ shown in FIG. 2A-FIG. 2D) that energizes the laser diode. The Bypass signal and Pulse signal are very similar, with the difference being the Bypass signal contains a very short interval following the negative edge of a clock signal which is responsible for creating the resonant overshoot which turns on the laser diode for a very short duration (1-5ns) to produce the high current pulse.

The mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁ of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 determine a “type” of signal, meaning a Pulse signal or Bypass signal, associated with each of the programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n). The non-programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) are configured such that they always produce respective Bypass signals. As a simplified example when the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 implements a 16-channel driver, with reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a combined mode configuration value of M=0 as determined by the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁ configures programmable drive terminals row₁-row₁₆ (‘1’-‘16’) such that each is operable to produce a Pulse signal (‘P’). A non-programmable drive terminal row₁₇ (‘17’) is configured to always produce a Bypass signal (‘B’).

Within the table 1500, ‘P’ indicates a Pulse signal and ‘B’ represents a Bypass signal. Additionally, ‘CX’ indicates that charge is delivered to each of the charge terminals cin₁-cin₄ during a positive portion of each clock cycle, ‘C1’ indicates that charge is delivered to the charge terminal cin₁ during each clock cycle, ‘C2’ indicates that charge is delivered to the charge terminal cin₂ during each clock cycle, and so on.

With reference to FIG. 10A, the output selection configuration terminals s₀-s_(k) are synchronized with a clock signal received at the clock terminal of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002. The output selection configuration terminals s₀-s_(k) determine, for each clock cycle, at which of the programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) the Pulse signal and the Bypass signal will appear based on the combined mode configuration value. As a simplified example, setting the output selection configuration terminal s₀ to a logic high and setting all other terminals of the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k) to a logic low will result in a Pulse signal or Bypass signal only appearing at row₁ for each clock cycle. Similarly, setting the output selection configuration terminal s₁ to a logic high and setting all other terminals the output selection configuration terminals s₀, s₂-s_(k) to a logic low will result in a Pulse signal or Bypass signal only appearing at row₂ for each clock cycle. However, values of the remainder of the configuration data of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 may further modify this behavior. A Bypass signal always appears at the non-programmable output driver terminals (e.g., row₁₇) for each clock cycle.

The grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁ determine how the output selection configuration terminals s₀-s_(k) are grouped. As a simplified example, when the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 implements a 16-channel driver, with reference to the table 1500 of FIG. 15, a combined grouping configuration value of E=0 as determined by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁ configures the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k) such that each programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) is independently selectable in accordance with received output selection configuration data. Thus, each programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) may be selectively energized on the same clock cycle to drive a respective connected laser diode. Similarly, a combined grouping configuration value of E=1 as determined by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁ configures the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k) such that only pairs of programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) are independently selectable in accordance with received output selection configuration data (i.e., the least significant bit (LSB) of the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k) is ignored). Thus, only pairs of programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) may be selectively energized on the same clock cycle to drive a connected laser diode. As yet another example, a combined grouping configuration value of E=2 as determined by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁ configures the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k) such that only quads of programmable drive terminals of row₁-row_(n) are independently selectable in accordance with received output selection configuration data (i.e., the two LSBs of the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k) are ignored).

With reference to FIG. 10A, the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₁ determine which of the charging terminals cin₁-cin₄ are clocked relative to the values of the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k). A capacitor (i.e., similar to the source capacitor C_(S) described above) of a resonant circuit connected to one or more of the charging terminals cin₁ -cin₄ is configurable to be charged to a voltage level at the input voltage terminal yin during a positive portion of the clock cycle. The voltage received at the input voltage terminal yin is similar to the source voltage V_(S) described above.

As a simplified example, when the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 implements a 16-channel driver, with reference to the table 1500 of FIG. 15, a combined charging configuration value of C=0 as determined by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₃ configures the charging terminals cin₁ -cin₄ such that they are each clocked for each clock cycle regardless of the values of the output selection configuration terminals s₁-s_(k). Similarly, a combined charging configuration value of C=1 as determined by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₃ configures the charging terminals cin₁-cin₄ such that charging terminal cin₁ (“C1”) is clocked for each clock cycle when output selection terminals S₁, s₅, S₉, or s₁₃ are set to a logic high, charging terminal cine (“C2”) is clocked for each clock cycle when the output selection configuration terminals s₂, s₆, s₁₀, or s₁₄ are set to a logic high, and so on. As another example, a combined charging configuration value of C=2 as determined by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₃ configures the charging terminals cin₁-cin₄ such that charging terminal cin₁ is clocked for each clock cycle when any of the output selection configuration terminals s₁, s₂, s₉ or s₁₀ are set to a logic high, and so on.

With reference to FIG. 10A, the pulse configuration terminals pw₀ and pw₁ are used to determine a pulse offset and a pulse width for activation of each laser diode during each clock cycle. A first resistor value coupled between the pulse configuration terminal pw₀ and ground configures a pulse offset from a negative clock edge of a clock signal received at the clock terminal of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002. A second resistor value coupled between the pulse configuration terminal pw₁ and ground determines a width of each high current pulse that activates a respective laser diode. For example, FIG. 2D illustrates two pulses 223, 223″ having varying widths and offsets from a negative edge of signal 220.

Switching performed within the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 may be implemented with NFET devices or PFET devices. Advantageously, such switching may be implemented using conventional Silicon or Silicon Carbide-based switches rather than high-voltage GAN devices. Signal routing, logic, and timing functions performed within the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 may be performed using appropriate signal routing, logic, and timing circuits as are understood by one of skill in the art.

FIG. 10B shows simplified circuit schematics of circuits used with the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 shown in FIG. 10A, in accordance with some embodiments. A laser diode circuit 1022′ generally includes one or more laser diodes D_(L) having an anode and a cathode, as described above. A parasitic inductance of the anode of the laser diodes D_(L) is represented as an inductor L_(DL). A simplified schematic representation 1022 of the laser diode circuit 1022′ may be used herein to simplify the drawings. A resonant circuit 1024′ generally includes an inductor L_(S), a source capacitor C_(S), a bypass capacitor C_(BP), and an optional damping resistor R_(Damp), as described with reference to FIG. 1A-FIG. 9B. A first terminal of the inductor L_(S) is directly electrically connected to a first terminal of the source capacitor C_(S). In some embodiments, a second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is electrically coupled to a bias voltage (e.g., ground) through a damping resistor R_(Damp). In other embodiments, the second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is directly electrically connected to the bias voltage. A second terminal (“Bypass”) of the inductor L_(S) is directly electrically connected to a first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP). A second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the source capacitor Cs. A charge terminal (“Charge”) of the resonant circuit 1024′ is directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the source capacitor C_(S). As indicated, a simplified schematic representation 1024 of the resonant circuit 1024′ may be used herein to simplify the drawings.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a simplified circuit schematic 1100 involving the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 of FIG. 10A when it is configured as a 16-channel driver 1102 to drive two quad-pack laser diode packages (each in a common cathode configuration), in accordance with some embodiments. In general, the circuit 1100 includes the configurable pulsed laser diode driver (“driver”) 1102 which is a 16-channel implementation of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 of FIG. 10A, a first grouping of four laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 d (i.e., a first “quad-pack”), a second grouping of four laser diode circuits 1122 e-1122 h (i.e., a second quad-pack), configuration resistors R1, R2, an optional controller 1120, and four LCR circuits 1124 a-1124 d, connected as shown. The optional controller 1120 is similar to the controller 120 described above. Also shown are clock and/or control signals (indicated as abstracted square-wave signals), a high voltage bias level Vdd, a low voltage bias level Vss, an input voltage signal Vin, and indications of signal routings Cin1-Cin4, Anode 1-Anode 4, and Cathode 1-Cathode 2.

The optional controller 1120 is operable to provide digital signals such as logical states and clock signals to the driver 1102 (e.g., as indicated by the abstracted square-wave signals at the clock and s₀-s₃ terminals, Vdd, and Vss). In some embodiments, the optional controller 1120 may be, or may include, a programmable memory device or a counter circuit. In some such embodiments, the optional controller 1120 is a programmable memory device configured to provide configuration data to the driver 1102, and a clock signal received by the driver 1102 is provided from a source other than the optional controller 1120 (e.g., from a clock generation circuit or oscillator, not shown). Some elements of the circuit 1100 have been omitted from FIG. 11 to simplify the description but are understood to be present.

Each of the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 h is the same as the laser diode circuit 1022′ shown in FIG. 10B. Similarly, each of the LCR circuits 1124 a-1124 d is the same as the resonant circuit 1024′ shown in FIG. 10B.

The principle of control of the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 h by the driver 1102 is similar to that shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B. That is, each LCR circuit 1124 a-1124 d has similar functionality to a resonant circuit of the pulsed laser diode driver 102 that includes the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the source capacitor C_(S), and the damping resistor R_(Damp). Similarly, each laser diode quad pack 1122 a-1122 d and 1122 e-1122 h is similar to the laser diode D_(L) of the pulsed laser diode driver 102.

In accordance with a clock signal received at a clock terminal of the driver 1102, the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 h are switched similarly to the switching of the laser diode D_(L) by the laser diode switch M_(DL) as shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B. The LCR circuits 1124 a-1124 d are switched similarly to the switching of the resonant circuit shown in FIG. 1B by the bypass switch M_(BP) of FIG. 1B.

Values of the configuration resistors R1, R2 configure a desired pulse width for an emitted laser pulse and an offset of the emitted laser pulse from a falling clock edge of a clock signal received at the clock terminal of the driver 1102. Configuration bits m₀-m₁, e₀-e₁, and c₀-c₁ are pulled (e.g., either “hard-wired” or dynamically controlled by the controller 1120) to either a logic high value (e.g., using a high bias voltage Vdd) or to a logic low value (e.g., using a low bias voltage Vss) such that the driver 1102 operates, as shown in FIG. 11, with a desired configuration setting of M=2, E=3, C=0, where a mode configuration value M is the decimal value set by the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, a grouping configuration value E is the decimal value set by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and a charge configuration value C is the decimal value set by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₁.

Table 1500 shown in FIG. 15 specifies various configurations of the 16-channel driver 1102 for each combination of configuration values. As shown in FIG. 11, with reference to table 1500, a mode configuration value of M=2 configures the driver 1102 as follows: the drive terminals row₁ and row₉ electrically couple the respective anodes (Anode 1) of the laser diode circuits 1122 a, 1122 e to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 a to receive a Bypass signal; the drive terminals row₂ and row₁₀ electrically couple the respective anodes (Anode 2) of the laser diode circuits 1122 b, 1122 f to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 b to receive a Bypass signal; the drive terminals rows and row₁₅ electrically couple the respective anodes (Anode 3) of the laser diode circuits 1122 c, 1122 g to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1124c to receive a Bypass signal; the drive terminals row₈ and row₁₆ electrically couple the respective anodes (Anode 4) of the laser diode circuits 1122 d, 1122 h to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 d to receive a Bypass signal; the drive terminals comprising row₃-row₆ selectively (i.e., in accordance to a Pulse signal) couple the respective cathodes (Cathode 1) of the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 d to ground (i.e., Vss); and the drive terminals comprising row₁₁-row₁₄ selectively electrically couple (i.e., in accordance to a Pulse signal) the respective cathodes (Cathode 2) of the laser diode circuits 1122 e-1122 h to ground. Thus, similar to the pulsed laser diode driver 102 of FIG. 1B, the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1102 blocks or allows respective currents through the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 h by controlling a Pulse signal at respective cathodes of the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 h.

With reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a charge configuration value of C=0 configures the driver 1102 as follows: the charge terminal cin₁ controls a current (Cin1) delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 a during each clock cycle; the charge terminal cine controls a current (Cin2) delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 b during each clock cycle; the charge terminal cin₃ controls a current (Cin3) delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 c during each clock cycle; and the charge terminal cin₄ controls a current (Cin4) delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1124 d during each clock cycle. During each clock cycle, respective capacitors of the LCR circuits 1124 a-1124 d are charged in accordance with the input voltage Vin at the input voltage terminal vin.

With reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a grouping configuration value of E=3 configures the driver 1102 such that every eight adjacent drive terminals (e.g., row₁-row₈ and row₉-row₁₆) are driven together by output selection signals received at the output selection terminals s₀-s₃. That is, the output selection terminal s₃ becomes the LSB for output selection between the laser diode circuits 1122 a-1122 d and 1122 e-1122 h.

FIG. 12 shows another example of a simplified circuit schematic 1200 involving the configurable 16-channel laser diode driver 1102 of FIG. 11 when it is configured to drive a single array comprising eight laser diodes (in a common anode configuration), in accordance with some embodiments. In general, the circuit 1200 includes the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1102, a single laser diode array 1222 of eight laser diodes, the configuration resistors R1, R2, the optional controller 1120, and a single LCR circuit 1224, connected as shown. Also shown are clock and/or control signals (indicated as abstracted square-wave signals), a high voltage bias level Vdd, a low voltage bias level Vss, an input voltage signal Vin, and indications of signal routings Cin1, Anode 1, and Cathode 1-Cathode 8. Some elements of the circuit 1200 have been omitted from FIG. 12 to simplify the description but are understood to be present.

Each laser diode circuit of the laser diode array 1222 is the same as the laser diode circuit 1022′ shown in FIG. 10B. Similarly, the LCR circuit 1224 is the same as the resonant circuit 1024′ shown in FIG. 10B.

Control of the laser diodes of the laser diode array 1222 by the driver 1102 is similar to that shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B and/or FIG. 4B. That is, the LCR circuit 1224 has similar functionality to a resonant circuit of the pulsed laser diode driver 102 that includes the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the source capacitor C_(S), and the damping resistor R_(Damp). Each of the laser diodes of the laser diode array 1222 is similar to the laser diode D_(L) and parasitic inductance L_(DL) of the pulsed laser diode driver 102. In accordance with a clock signal received at the clock terminal of the driver 1102, the laser diodes of the laser diode array 1222 are controlled similarly to the laser diode D_(L) by the switch laser diode switch M_(DL) as shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B. The LCR circuit 1224 is controlled similarly to the resonant circuit shown in FIG. 1B by the switch bypass switch M_(BP) of FIG. 1B.

Values of the configuration resistors R1, R2 configure a desired pulse width for an emitted laser pulse and an offset of the emitted laser pulse from a falling clock edge of a clock signal received at the clock terminal of the driver 1102. In the example shown, the driver 1102 operates with a desired configuration setting of M=1, E=1, C=3 where a mode configuration value M is the decimal value set by the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, a grouping configuration value E is the decimal value set by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and a charge configuration value C is the decimal value set by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₁.

As shown in FIG. 12, with reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a mode configuration value of M=1 configures the driver 1102 as follows: the drive terminals row₂, row₄, row₆, row₈, row₁₀, row₁₂, row₁₄, and row₁₆ electrically couple respective anodes of the laser diodes of the laser diode array 1222 to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1224 to provide a Bypass signal; and the drive terminals comprising row₁, row₃, row₅, row₇, row₉, row₁₁, row₁₃, and row₁₅ control respective cathodes Cathode 1-Cathode 8 of the laser diode array 1222. The drive terminal row₁₇ is tied to ground (Vss).

With reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a charge configuration value of C=3 configures the driver 1102 such that the charge terminals cin₁-cin₄ collectively control a current delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1224. Thus, for any value of the output selection terminals s₀-s₃, charge will be supplied to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1224.

With reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a grouping configuration value of E=1 configures the driver 1102 such that every two adjacent drive terminals (e.g., row₁ and row₂, row₃ and row₄, and so on) are selected together. Thus, individual control of each laser diode of the laser diode array 1222 is achieved. That is, if the output selection terminal so is set to a logic high value and all other output selection terminals s₁-s₃ are set to a logic low value, then the Pulse signal and the Bypass signal will only appear on the drive terminals row₁ and row₂, respectively and in accordance with the clock cycle.

FIG. 13 shows another example of a simplified circuit schematic 1300 involving the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1102 of FIG. 11 when it is configured to drive a single array comprising sixteen laser diodes (in a common anode configuration), in accordance with some embodiments. In general, the circuit 1300 includes the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1102, a single laser diode array 1322 of sixteen laser diodes, the configuration resistors R1, R2, the optional controller 1120, and a single LCR circuit 1324, connected as shown. Also shown are clock and/or control signals (indicated as abstracted square-wave signals), a high voltage bias level Vdd, a low voltage bias level Vss, an input voltage signal Vin, and indications of signal routings Cin1, Anode 1, and Cathode 1-Cathode 16. Some elements of the circuit 1300 have been omitted from FIG. 13 to simplify the description but are understood to be present. Each laser diode circuit of the laser diode circuit 1322 is the same as the laser diode circuit 1022′ shown in FIG. 10B. Similarly, the LCR circuit 1324 is the same as the resonant circuit 1024′ shown in FIG. 10B.

Control of the laser diodes of the laser diode circuit 1322 by the driver 1102 is similar to that shown and described for the laser diode array 1222 with reference to FIG. 12.

In the example shown, the driver 1102 operates with a desired configuration setting of M=0, E=0, C=0, where a mode configuration value M is the decimal value set by the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, a grouping configuration value E is the decimal value set by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and a charge configuration value C is the decimal value set by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₁.

As shown in FIG. 13, with reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a mode configuration value of M=0 configures the driver 1102 as follows: the drive terminal row₁₇ electrically couples respective anodes of the laser diodes of the laser diode circuit 1322 to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1324; and the drive terminals row₁-row₁₆ control respective cathodes Cathode 1-Cathode 16 of the laser diode circuit 1322.

With reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a charge configuration value of C=0 configures the driver 1102 such that the charge terminals cin₁-cin₄ collectively control a current delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1324. Thus, for any value of the output selection terminals s₀-s₃, charge will be supplied to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1324.

With reference to table 1500 of FIG. 15, a grouping configuration value of E=0 configures the driver 1102 such that each drive terminal (e.g., row₁, row₂, row₃, and so on) is driven individually. However, a Bypass signal appears at drive terminal row₁₇ for each clock cycle of the driver 1102. Thus, individual control of each laser diode of the laser diode circuit 1322 is achieved based on control of the drive terminals row₁-row₁₆.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a simplified circuit schematic 1400 involving a configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 of FIG. 10A when it is configured to drive a 64-row VCSEL laser diode array (in a common anode configuration), in accordance with some embodiments. In general, the circuit 1400 includes a configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1402 which is an implementation of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002 of FIG. 10A, a 64-row VCSEL laser diode array 1452, the configuration resistors R1, R2, the optional controller 1120, and an LCR circuit 1424, connected as shown. The optional controller 1120 is similar to the controller 120 described above. The optional controller 1120 is operable to provide digital signals such as logical states and clock signals to the driver 1402. In some embodiments, the optional controller 1120 may be, or may include, a programmable memory device. In some such embodiments, the optional controller is a programmable memory device configured to provide configuration data to the driver 1402, and a clock signal received by the driver 1402 is provided from a source other than the optional controller 1120 (e.g., from a clock generation circuit or oscillator, not shown). Also shown are clock and/or control signals (indicated as abstracted square-wave signals), a high voltage bias level Vdd, a low voltage bias level Vss, an input voltage signal Vin, and indications of signal routings Cin1, Anode 1, and Cathode 1-Cathode 64. Some elements of the circuit 1400 have been omitted from FIG. 14 to simplify the description but are understood to be present.

Each laser diode of the laser diode array 1452 represents a row of laser diodes of a VCSEL array, which may have hundreds of emitters, but in principle operates similarly to the laser diode circuit 1022 shown in FIG. 10B. Similarly, the LCR circuit 1424 is the same as the resonant circuit 1024′ shown in FIG. 10B. Thus, control of the laser diodes of the laser diode array 1452 by the driver 1402 is similar to that shown and described with reference to FIG. 1B and/or FIG. 4B. That is, the LCR circuit 1324 has similar functionality to a resonant circuit of the pulsed laser diode driver 102 that includes the inductor L_(S), the bypass capacitor C_(BP), the source capacitor C_(S), and the damping resistor R_(Damp). Similarly, each row of laser diodes of the laser diode array 1452 is similar to the laser diode D_(L) of the pulsed laser diode driver 102.

Control of the rows of laser diodes of the laser diode array 1452 by the driver 1402 is similar to that shown and described for the laser diode array 1222 with reference to FIG. 12.

Values of the configuration resistors R1, R2 configure a desired pulse width for an emitted laser pulse and an offset of the emitted laser pulse from a falling clock edge of a clock signal received at the clock terminal of the driver 1402. In the example shown, the driver 1402 operates with a desired configuration setting of M=0, E=0, C=0 where a mode configuration value M is the decimal value set by the mode configuration terminals m₀-m₁, a grouping configuration value E is the decimal value set by the grouping configuration terminals e₀-e₁, and a charge configuration value C is the decimal value set by the charging configuration terminals c₀-c₁.

Table 1600 shown in FIGS. 16A-B specifies various configurations of the driver 1402 for each combination of configuration values. Within the table 1600, ‘P’ indicates a Pulse signal and ‘B’ represents a Bypass signal. Additionally, ‘CX’ indicates that charge is delivered to each of the charge terminals cin₁-cin₄ during (e.g., during a positive portion) each clock cycle, ‘C1’ indicates that charge is delivered to the charge terminal cin₁ during each clock cycle, ‘C2’ indicates that charge is delivered to the charge terminal cine during each clock cycle, and so on.

As shown in FIG. 14, with reference to table 1600 of FIGS. 16A-B, a mode configuration value of M=0 configures the driver 1402 as follows: the drive terminals comprising row6 ₅ through row₆₈ electrically couple respective anodes of the laser diode array 1452 to the bypass terminal of the LCR circuit 1424 to receive a Bypass signal; and the drive terminals comprising row₁ through row₆₄ control respective cathodes Cathode 1-Cathode 64 of the VCSEL laser diode array 1452 to receive a Pulse signal.

With reference to table 1600 of FIGS. 16A-B, a charge configuration value of C=0 configures the driver 1402 such that the charge terminals cin₁ through cin₄ collectively control a current delivered to the charge terminal of the LCR circuit 1424.

With reference to table 1600 of FIGS. 16A-B, a grouping configuration value of E =0 configures the driver 1402 such that each drive pin (e.g., row₁, row₂, row 3, and so on) is driven individually. Thus, individual control of each row of laser diodes of the VCSEL laser diode array 1452 is driven in accordance with signals received at the select terminals s₀-s₅. However, based on a bump pattern of the driver 1402, groups of four channels may be combined such that each four-channel grouping is associated with a respective bump. For example, drive terminals row₁-row ₄ may be electrically connected to Bump1, drive terminals row₅-row₈ may be electrically connected to Bump2, and so on.

FIG. 17 is a photograph 1700 of a portion of a realization of the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1402 shown in FIG. 14, in accordance with some embodiments. The configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1402 of FIG. 14 is advantageously designed to be directly bond-pad to bond-pad connected to a VCSEL laser diode array having 80 μm pitch bond-pads. In some embodiments, a final back-end processing for configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002/1102/1402 utilizes a redistribution layer (RDL) to make final connections between CMOS metal processing layers and bond pads. By changing this final back end RDL layer a completely different bumped wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) with 320 μm bump pitch can be advantageously configured by, for example, collecting the 64 output terminals in groups of four, resulting in a 16-channel edge-emitting diode driver capable of producing 40 Amp 1-5 ns pulses. Because in such embodiments there are only 17 outputs (16 programmable, one non-programmable), the RDL mapping left shifts output selection configuration bits s₀-s₅, resulting in four output selection configuration terminals s₀-s₃ which determine which of the 16 drive terminals row₁-row₁ ₆are selected. In some embodiments, one or more additional configuration terminals are set to various configuration values as part of the RDL mapping to configure the configurable pulsed laser diode driver 1002/1102/1402 into 16-channel, 64-channel, or other channel number modes.

Additionally, many quad laser diode packages have two anode connections on either side of the package and a large common cathode connection in the center of the package. Thus, for example, a mode configuration value of M=2 in combination with a bump configuration of the RDL mapping advantageously creates a signal and physical correspondence to such laser diode packages.

FIG. 18A is a simplified schematic representation of a prior art common-anode laser diode 2-D array (“common-anode laser diode array”) 1820. The common-anode laser diode array 1820 includes n rows, Row₁ through Row_(n), having m laser diodes 1822 each. In some embodiments, each of the laser diodes 1822 is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. In other embodiments, each of the laser diodes 1822 is an edge-emitting laser. For each row of the common-anode laser diode array 1820, the m laser diodes 1822 of each row, Row₁ through Row_(n), have a common-cathode connection (as shown in FIG. 18C and discussed below). That is, each cathode of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₁ is connected in common to a first row cathode node 1824 a, each cathode of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₂ is connected in common to a second row cathode node 1824 b, and each cathode of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row_(n) is connected to an n^(th) row cathode node 1824n. Each of the anodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-anode laser diode array 1820 is connected to a common-anode node 1828. In some embodiments, the number of rows n is equal to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 100, 128 or another number of rows, and the number m of laser diodes 1822 per row is equal to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 100, 128 or another number of laser diodes. Details of the common-anode laser diode array 1820 are shown and described with reference to FIG. 18C.

FIG. 18B is a simplified schematic representation of a prior art common-cathode laser diode 2-D array (“common-cathode laser diode array”) 1830. The common-cathode laser diode array 1830 includes n rows, Row₁ through Row_(n), having m laser diodes 1822 each. For each row of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830, the m laser diodes 1822 of each row, Row₁ through Row_(n), have a common-anode connection (as shown in FIG. 18D and discussed below). That is, each anode of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₁ is connected in common to a first row anode node 1834 a, each anode of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₂ is connected in common to a second row anode node 1834 b, and each anode of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row_(n) is connected to an n^(th) row anode node 1834n. Each of the cathodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830 is connected to a common-cathode node 1838. In some embodiments, the number of rows n is equal to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 100, 128 or another number of rows, and the number m of laser diodes 1822 per row is equal to 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 100, 128 or another number of laser diodes. Details of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830 are shown and described with reference to FIG. 18D.

FIG. 18C is a simplified circuit schematic of the prior art common-anode VCSEL array 1820 shown in FIG. 18A. As shown, each of the n rows, Row₁ through Row_(n), includes m laser diodes. For example, Row₁ includes m laser diodes 1822 a′ through 1822 a ^(m), Row₂ includes m laser diodes 1822 b ¹ through 1822 b ^(m), and Row_(n) includes m laser diodes 1822 n ¹ through 1822n^(m). Each of the cathodes of the m laser diodes of Row₁ is connected in common at the row cathode node 1824 a, each of the cathodes of m laser diodes of Row₂ is connected in common at the row cathode node 1824 b, and so on. Each of the anodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-anode laser diode array 1820 is connected to the common-anode node 1828. Also shown are representations L_(DL) ¹ through L_(DL) ^(n) of bond wire inductances corresponding to each row Row₁ through Row_(n) of the laser diode array 1820.

FIG. 18D is a circuit schematic of the prior art common-cathode laser diode array 1830 shown in FIG. 18B. As shown, each of then rows, Row₁ through Row_(n), includes m laser diodes. For example, Row₁ includes m laser diodes 1822 a ¹ through 1822 a ^(m), Row₂ includes m laser diodes 1822 b ¹ through 1822 b ^(m), and Row_(n) includes m laser diodes 1822n¹ through 1822 n ^(m). Each of the anodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₁ are connected in common at the row anode node 1834 a, each of the anodes of m laser diodes 1822 of Row₂ are connected in common at the row anode node 1834 b, and so on. Each of the cathodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830 is connected to the common-cathode node 1838. Also shown are representations L_(DL) ¹ through L_(DL) ^(n) of bond wire inductances corresponding to each row Row₁ through Row_(n) of the laser diode array 1830.

FIG. 19 is a simplified circuit schematic of a pulsed resonant common-anode laser diode driver 1902, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, the pulsed common-anode laser diode array driver 1902 includes the common-anode VCSEL laser diode array 1820 described with reference to FIG. 18A and FIG. 18C, an inductor L_(S), a source capacitor C_(S), a bypass capacitor C_(BP), a source capacitor charging switch M_(S), a bypass switch M_(BP), and n laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n). Also shown are the nodes 110, 1824 _(a) through 1824 _(n), and 1828, the optional controller 120, and gate driving signals that include the source switch gate driver signal GATE_(S), a bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and laser diode switch gate driver signals GATE_(DL) ¹ through GATE_(DL) ^(n). The common-anode laser diode array 1820 includes n rows, Row₁ through Row_(n), of m laser diodes 1822 each. The cathodes of the m laser diodes in each of the n rows are connected in common to a respective row cathode node (i.e., 1824 _(a) through 1824 _(n)) for that row. All of the anodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-anode laser diode array 1820 are connected to the common-anode node 1828. In some embodiments, the source switch M_(S) is replaced by a resistor that is the same or is similar to the resistor R_(S) shown in FIG. 1A. The actively controlled source switch M_(S) is operable to advantageously rapidly charge the source capacitor C_(S) to increase a repetition rate of the pulsed common-anode laser diode array driver 1902 as compared to embodiments that use the resistor R_(S). In some embodiments, the actively controlled source switch M_(S) is implemented as a P-type switch that advantageously does not require bootstrap circuitry. The actively controlled source switch M_(S) is activated only during a pre-charge step (i.e., during step 301 as described with reference to FIG. 3), and thus prior to a preflux step (i.e., prior to step 302 as described with reference to FIG. 3).

In some embodiments, the laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n) and the bypass switch M_(BP) are implemented using N-type switches, and the source capacitor charging switch M_(S) is implemented as a P-type switch, but any type of switch that satisfies switching speed and current requirements of the laser diode array driver 1902 may be used.

As shown, a first node of the source switch M_(S) is directly electrically connected to a DC input voltage Vin. A second node of the source switch M_(S) is directly electrically connected to the source capacitor C_(S) and to a first terminal of the inductor L_(S). A second terminal of the inductor L_(S) is directly electrically connected to a first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP), a drain node of the bypass switch M_(BP), and to the common-anode node 1828 of the common-anode laser diode array 1820 (and thereby to each of the anodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-anode laser diode array 1820). A second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is coupled to ground, either via a direct electrical connection or through an optional damping resistor R_(Damp). A second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly connected to ground, and a source node of the bypass switch M_(BP) is directly connected to ground. Each of the cathodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₁ are directly electrically connected to a drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) ¹. Each of the cathodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₂ are directly electrically connected to a drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) ². Similarly, each of the cathodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row_(n) are directly electrically connected to a drain node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) ^(n). Each source node of the laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n) is directly electrically connected to ground.

FIGS. 20A-20C show simplified plots 2002, 2020, and 2040 of signals related to operation of the pulsed common-anode laser diode array driver 1902 shown in FIG. 19, in accordance with some embodiments. In the example shown, the pulsed common-anode laser diode array driver 1902 is configured to control a four-row array (i.e., n is equal to 4). The plots 2002 include a clock signal 2004, a bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 2006, a first laser diode switch gate driver signal (e.g., GATE_(DL) ¹) 2008, a second laser diode switch gate driver signal (e.g., GATE_(DL) ²) 2010, a third laser diode switch gate driver signal 2012, and a fourth laser diode switch gate driver signal (e.g., GATE_(DL) ^(n)) 2014.

The plots 2020 include a first current pulse 2022 of (e.g., of Row₁), a second current pulse 2024 (e.g., of Row₂), a third current pulse 2026 (e.g., of a third row of the laser diode array 1820), and a fourth current pulse 2028 (e.g., of a fourth row, Row_(n)) of the laser diode array 1820. Each current pulse 2022, 2024, 2026, and 2028 is a 9 Amp current pulse that causes each laser diode 1822 of the corresponding row of the laser diode array 1820 to emit a 5 ns laser pulse. Also shown is a voltage 2030 developed at the source capacitor C_(S) that ranges from 0 V to Vin, the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 2006, and a region of interest 2034 which is shown in greater detail in a simplified graph 2040 of FIG. 20C.

With reference to FIG. 19, during a high phase of the clock signal 2004, the source capacitor C_(S) is charged to a supply voltage (e.g., the DC input voltage V_(in)), similar to step 301 as described with reference to FIG. 3. The voltage level to which the source capacitor C_(S) is charged determines the amplitude of a subsequent current pulse. Immediately following the charging state, both the bypass switch M_(BP) and a laser driver switch of the laser driver switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n) of a selected row are enabled, similar to step 302 as described with reference to FIG. 3, and current begins to flow through the inductor L_(S). This is a preflux time interval (e.g., as described with reference to step 302 of FIG. 3), during which a current through the inductor L_(S) increases to a desired value. The next time interval is the pulse generation step, similar to step 303 as described with reference to FIG. 3, during which the bypass switch M_(BP) is turned off for a short time, which allows energy stored in the inductor L_(S) to transfer to the bypass capacitor C_(BP) by increasing the voltage at the common-anode node 1828, thereby allowing a current pulse to flow through each diode in the selected row. Following the current pulse interval, the bypass switch M_(BP) turns on once again to discharge the remainder of the energy in the source capacitor C_(S) so that both the bypass switch M_(BP) and the enabled laser driver switch M_(DL) ^(1−n) can turn off safely (e.g., similar to step 304 as described with reference to FIG. 3). The cycle then repeats for a next clock cycle of the clock signal 2004, during which a next row of the laser diode array 1820 is selected. The switching cycle (i.e., as described with reference to FIG. 3) continues until all rows of the laser diode array 1820 have been selected, thereby defining a frame rate of a sequential scanning of the laser diode array 1820.

FIG. 21 is a simplified circuit schematic of a pulsed common-cathode laser diode array driver 2102, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, the pulsed common-cathode laser diode array driver 2102 includes the common-cathode laser diode array 1830 described with reference to FIG. 18B and FIG. 18D, an inductor L_(S), a source capacitor C_(S), a bypass capacitor C_(BP), a source capacitor charging switch Ms, a bypass switch M_(BP) and n laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n). Also shown are nodes 110, 1834 _(a) through 1834 _(n) and 1838, the optional controller 120, and gate driving signals that include the source switch gate driver signal GATE_(S), a bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP), and laser diode switch gate driver signals GATE_(DL) ¹ through GATE_(DL) ^(n).

In some embodiments, the laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n) and the bypass switch M_(BP) are implemented using P-type switches, and the source capacitor charging switch M_(S) is implemented as an N-type switch, but any type of switch that satisfies switching speed and current requirements of the laser diode array driver 2102 may be used. For simplicity, switch signal polarity is such that the switch is on, or at a low resistance when the switch enable signal is positive. However, if P-type devices are used, the switch signal polarity would be reversed. Common cathode laser diode arrays, such as the laser diode array 1830, require that a cathode voltage pulses negative with respect to an anode voltage of each laser diode 1822. Therefore, if each row of the laser diode array 1830 is selectively connected to ground or 0 volts, then the common-cathode node 1838 must pulse in a negative direction to emit a laser pulse.

The common-cathode laser diode array 1830 includes n rows Row₁ through Row_(n) of m laser diodes 1822 each. The anodes of the m laser diodes in each of the n rows are connected in common to a respective row anode node (i.e., 1834 _(a) through 1834 _(n)) for that row. Each of the cathodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830 is connected to the common-cathode node 1838. In some embodiments, the source switch M_(S) is replaced by a resistor that is the same or is similar to the resistor R_(S) shown in FIG. 1A. The actively controlled source switch M_(S) is operable to advantageously rapidly charge the source capacitor C_(S) to increase a repetition rate of the pulsed common-cathode laser diode array driver 2102 as compared to embodiments that use the resistor R_(S). In some embodiments, the actively controlled source switch M_(S) is implemented as a P-type switch that advantageously does not require bootstrap circuitry. The actively controlled source switch M_(S) is activated only during a pre-charge step (i.e., during step 301 as described with reference to FIG. 3), and thus prior to a preflux step (i.e., prior to step 302 as described with reference to FIG. 3).

As shown, a first node of the source switch M_(S) is directly electrically connected to a negative DC input voltage -Vin. A second node of the source switch Ms is directly electrically connected to the source capacitor C_(S) and to a first terminal of the inductor L_(S). A second terminal of the inductor L_(S) is directly electrically connected to a first terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP), a first node of the bypass switch M_(BP), and to the common-cathode node 1838 of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830 (and thereby to each of the cathodes of the m×n laser diodes 1822 of the common-cathode laser diode array 1830). A second terminal of the source capacitor C_(S) is coupled to ground, either via a direct electrical connection or through an optional damping resistor R_(Damp). A second terminal of the bypass capacitor C_(BP) is directly connected to ground, and a second node of the bypass switch M_(BP) is directly connected to ground. Each of the anodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row₁ are directly electrically connected to a first node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) ¹. Each of the anodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Rowe are directly electrically connected to a first node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) ². Similarly, each of the anodes of the m laser diodes 1822 of Row_(n) are directly electrically connected to a first node of the laser diode switch M_(DL) ^(n). Each second node of the laser diode switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n) is directly electrically connected to ground.

FIGS. 22A-22C show simplified plots 2202, 2220, and 2240 of signals related to operation of the pulsed common-cathode laser diode array driver 2102 shown in FIG. 21, in accordance with some embodiments. In the example shown, the pulsed common-cathode laser diode array driver 2102 is configured to control a four-row laser diode array (i.e., n is equal to 4). The plots 2202 include a clock signal 2204, a bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 2206, a first laser diode switch gate driver signal (e.g., GATE_(DL) ¹) 2208, a second laser diode switch gate driver signal (e.g., GATE_(DL) ²) 2210, a third laser diode switch gate driver signal 2212 of the laser diode array driver 2102, and a fourth laser diode switch gate driver signal (e.g., GATE_(DL) ^(n)) 2214.

The plots 2220 include a first current pulse 2222 of (e.g., of Row₁), a second current pulse 2224 (e.g., of Row₂), a third current pulse 2226 (e.g., of a third row of the laser diode array 1830), and a fourth current pulse 2228 (e.g., of a fourth row, Row_(n)) of the laser diode array 1830. Each current pulse 2222, 2224, 2226, and 2228 is a 9 Amp current pulse that causes each laser diode 1822 of the corresponding row of the laser diode array 1830 to emit a 5ns laser pulse. Also shown is the bypass switch gate driver signal GATE_(BP) 2206, a voltage 2230 at the source capacitor C_(S) that ranges from −Vin to 0 V, and a region of interest 2234 which is shown in greater detail in graph 2240 of FIG. 22C.

With reference to FIG. 21, during a high phase of the clock signal 2204, the source capacitor C_(S) is charged to a supply voltage (e.g., the negative DC input voltage −V_(in),), similar to step 301 as described with reference to FIG. 3. The voltage level to which the source capacitor C_(S) is charged determines the amplitude of a subsequent current pulse. Immediately following the charging state, both the bypass switch M_(BP) and a laser driver switch of the laser driver switches M_(DL) ¹ through M_(DL) ^(n) of a selected row are enabled, similar to step 302 as described with reference to FIG. 3, and current begins to flow through the inductor L_(S). This is a preflux time interval (e.g., as described with reference to step 302 of FIG. 3) during which a current through the inductor L_(S) increases to a desired value. The next time interval is the pulse generation step, similar to step 303 as described with reference to FIG. 3, during which the bypass switch M_(BP) is turned off for a short time which allows energy stored in the inductor L_(S) to transfer to the bypass capacitor C_(BP) by increasing the negative voltage at the common-anode node 1838, thereby allowing a current pulse to flow through each diode in the selected row. Following the current pulse interval, the bypass switch M_(BP) turns on once again to discharge the remainder of the energy in the source capacitor C_(S) so that both the bypass switch M_(BP) and the enabled laser driver switch M_(DL) ^(1−n) can turn off safely (e.g., similar to step 304 as described with reference to FIG. 3). The cycle then repeats for a next clock cycle of the clock signal 2204, during which a next row of the laser diode array 1830 is selected. The switching cycle (i.e., as described with reference to FIG. 3) continues until all rows of the laser diode array 1830 have been selected, thereby defining a frame rate of a sequential scanning of the laser diode array 1830.

Reference has been made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed invention, one or more examples of which have been illustrated in the accompanying figures. Each example has been provided by way of explanation of the present technology, not as a limitation of the present technology. In fact, while the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pulsed laser diode array driver, comprising: an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive a source voltage; a source capacitor having a first capacitor terminal directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage and a second capacitor terminal electrically coupled to ground; a bypass capacitor having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal directly electrically connected to ground; a bypass switch having a first node that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second node that is directly electrically connected to ground; a laser diode array comprising one or more rows, each row comprising a plurality of laser diodes, a first node of each respective laser diode being connected in common to a single common node, and a second node of each respective laser diode of each of the one or more rows being connected in common to a respective row node; and one or more laser diode switches, each laser diode switch having a respective first node directly electrically connected to a respective row node and a respective second node directly connected to ground; wherein, the one or more laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the laser diode array.
 2. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: the first node of each respective laser diode connected in common to the single common node is an anode of that laser diode; and the second node of each respective laser diode of each of the one or more rows is a cathode of that laser diode.
 3. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 2, wherein: the source voltage is a positive voltage.
 4. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: the first node of each respective laser diode connected in common to the single common node is a cathode of that laser diode; and the second node of each respective laser diode of each of the one or more rows is an anode of that laser diode.
 5. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 4, wherein: the source voltage is a negative voltage.
 6. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: each laser diode of the laser diode array is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode.
 7. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: each laser diode of the laser diode array is a side-emitting laser diode.
 8. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: the second capacitor terminal of the source capacitor is electrically coupled to ground via a damping resistor.
 9. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: the second capacitor terminal of the source capacitor is electrically coupled to ground via a direct electrical connection to ground.
 10. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, further comprising: a source switch having a first node that is configured to receive a DC input voltage and a second node that is directly electrically connected to the first capacitor terminal, the source switch being operable to charge the source capacitor using the DC input voltage when the source switch is enabled.
 11. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 1, wherein: the one or more laser diode switches are Silicon-based field-effect transistors.
 12. A pulsed laser diode array driver comprising: an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive a source voltage; a source capacitor having a first capacitor terminal directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage and a second capacitor terminal electrically coupled to ground; a bypass capacitor having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal directly electrically connected to ground; a bypass switch having a first node that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second node that is directly electrically connected to ground; a common-anode laser diode array comprising one or more rows, each row comprising a plurality of laser diodes, respective anodes of all of the laser diodes being connected in common to a single common-anode node, and respective cathodes of each of the laser diodes of each row of the one or more rows being connected in common to a respective row cathode node; and one or more laser diode switches, each laser diode switch having a respective first node directly electrically connected to a respective row cathode node and a respective second node directly connected to ground; wherein, the one or more laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the common-anode laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the common-anode laser diode array.
 13. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 12, further comprising: a source switch having a first node that is configured to receive a DC input voltage and a second node that is directly electrically connected to the first capacitor terminal, the source switch being operable to charge the source capacitor using the DC input voltage when the source switch is enabled.
 14. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 12, wherein: the second capacitor terminal of the source capacitor is electrically coupled to ground via a damping resistor.
 15. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 12, wherein: the second capacitor terminal of the source capacitor is electrically coupled to ground via a direct electrical connection to ground.
 16. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 12, wherein: each laser diode of the common-anode laser diode array is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode.
 17. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 12, wherein: each laser diode of the common-anode laser diode array is a side-emitting laser diode.
 18. A pulsed laser diode array driver comprising: an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being configured to receive a source voltage; a source capacitor having a first capacitor terminal directly electrically connected to the first terminal of the inductor to provide the source voltage and a second capacitor terminal electrically coupled to ground; a bypass capacitor having a first terminal that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second terminal directly electrically connected to ground; a bypass switch having a first node that is directly electrically connected to the second terminal of the inductor and a second node that is directly electrically connected to ground; a common-cathode laser diode array comprising one or more rows, each row comprising a plurality of laser diodes, respective cathodes of all of the laser diodes being connected in common to a single common-cathode node, and respective anodes of each of the laser diodes of each row of the one or more rows being connected in common to a respective row anode node; and one or more laser diode switches, each laser diode switch having a respective first node directly electrically connected to a respective row anode node and a respective second node directly connected to ground; wherein, the one or more laser diode switches and the bypass switch are configured to control a current flow through the inductor to produce respective high-current pulses through each row of the common-cathode laser diode array, each of the high-current pulses corresponding to a peak current of a resonant waveform developed at that row of the common-cathode laser diode array.
 19. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 18, wherein: the source voltage is a negative voltage.
 20. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 18, wherein: the second capacitor terminal of the source capacitor is electrically coupled to ground via a damping resistor.
 21. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 18, wherein: the second capacitor terminal of the source capacitor is electrically coupled to ground via a direct electrical connection to ground.
 22. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 18, wherein: each laser diode of the common-cathode laser diode array is a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode.
 23. The pulsed laser diode array driver of claim 18, wherein: each laser diode of the common-cathode laser diode array is a side-emitting laser diode. 